Perth’s campaign for city status has moved to Holyrood as the leaders of all four major parties pledged their support.
First Minister Alex Salmond, and Iain Gray, Annabel Goldie and Tavish Scott put their differences aside to sign a special charter stating they were behind Perth’s bid to officially become a city again.
Provost John Hulbert and depute provost Willie Wilson visited the Scottish Parliament to obtain the crucial backing.
The bid was dealt a blow when it was announced that only one town in the UK would be given the prize during the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations next year.
Mr Salmond raised the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron and has called for a separate competition for each country in the UK.
“We need a level playing field to ensure Perth can compete fairly alongside larger towns and it is clear that the UK Government needs to reconsider the current arrangements in order to be fair to all four nations of the UK,” he insisted yesterday.
“As one of the most ancient and historic places in Scotland, Perth deserves our full support in its bid to be recognised as a city, and have its former status restored.”
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said it was “very important” Perth was made a city.
“The Fair City has a great history and it would be fitting that with Perth having just celebrated its 800th anniversary it also received city status,” Mr Gray said.
“We know the competition is tough but Perth has Labour’s full support.”
Perth lost its original city status during local government re-organisation in 1975 but Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott said it was “clearly” still a city.
“I hope this campaign will be successful so that it can regain formal city status,” he added. “Perth has all the qualities of being a thriving, modern city and the campaign should succeed.”
Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said, “Perth is a jewel in the Scottish crown, a dynamic centre for the region and a first-class place to live and do business.”
After the signing, Provost Hulbert thanked the parties for their support.
“Perth’s campaign to have city status restored already has wide support from residents, businesses, the local media and celebrities,” he said.
“The signing of the charter can only help to strengthen our claim for restoration of our rightful title.
“I would also use this opportunity to call on the public in Perth and Kinross and further afield to get behind our bid and help build the momentum further.”
Mr Wilson called it “a vital milestone” in the campaign.
He said, “It is very important that everyone concerned supports our bid and this applies locally as well as nationally.
“There is a huge opportunity for the people of Perth and Kinross now to fully back the campaign.”
The city competitions held in 2000 and 2002 involved competitions for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, rather than the UK-wide award this time.
The submission date for the bid is May 27.
Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the “important backing.”
“Not surprising, on the one hand, because of the strength of the case but it is certainly unusual to be able to swing the leaders of all four of Scotland’s largest political parties behind any cause,” she added.
“Scotland is uniting behind Perth and I hope that Westminster is listening.”